Beating Liverpool and Arsenal plus Ten Hag's role - why Manchester United signed Mason Mount

Mason Mount was Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag's prime target to strengthen their midfield this summer.

United claim they saw off interest from Liverpool and Arsenal to agree personal terms with Mount, 24, in May. Mount showed a "strong desire" to join United.

With Frenkie de Jong wedded to Barcelona and Jude Bellingham bound for Real Madrid, Ten Hag identified Mount as the most suitable option to add creativity to the United squad.

Ten Hag wanted a dynamic, younger midfielder as Casemiro and Christian Eriksen turned 31 in February and Fred turned 30 in March.

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United believe they have signed a high-energy player with impressive technical quality, a winning pedigree and a strong personality. Mount won the Champions League and Club World Cup with Chelsea.

Sources say Ten Hag was heavily involved in selling United to Mount and convincing him to leave Chelsea. Ten Hag also provided a clear vision for the role Mount is set to occupy in the United side.

Ten Hag came across Mount during his season-long loan with Vitesse Arnhem in 2017-18 when he was appointed as Ajax coach midway through the campaign. Mount's coach at Vitesse, Henk Fraser, likened him to De Jong.

Well-placed sources at United say Mount's style is suited to Ten Hag as he oversees the second phase of United's squad rebuild. The recruitment department also approved of targeting Mount.

Although Mount has been accused of prioritising finances over football after Chelsea refused to meet his salary demands, United are adamant they have recruited another player invested in playing for the club.

Mount has agreed a £250,000-a-week five-year contract and United have the option of an additional year.

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